PHNOM PENH (ANN/THE PHNOM PENH POST) – Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Border Affairs has officially reached out to Alphabet Inc, Google’s parent company, seeking clarification regarding the labelling of the Cambodian Island “Koh Ach Seh” as Vietnamese territory in Google Maps.
This inquiry follows widespread questioning on social media platforms, where users highlighted the discrepancy between the island’s actual ownership and its representation on the popular mapping application.
The Secretariat emphasised that Koh Ach Seh falls under Kep province’s jurisdiction, specifically within Kep town and commune.
Currently, it is home to a maritime border defence police administration facility, known as the “Koh Ach Seh Police Administration”.
Officials are stationed there, and tourists regularly visit the island.
“The border secretariat wishes to inform the public that Google Maps is not an official cartographer, and does not demarcate borders between states. This map was created for their trade purposes only,” said the secretariat.
“We will work with Google to resolve this issue,” it added.
The secretariat called on members of the public to share its clarification widely, so as to avoid confusion.
